UConn Men roster

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published
7:00 pm EST, Wednesday, March 16, 2005

6-11 / SO / Brooklyn, N.Y.

After struggling to start the season, Villanueva has posted 11 double-doubles this season to tie Josh Boone for the team lead. Although Villanueva is expected to declare for the NBA draft after the season, there is still unfinished business on his plate. After being selected for the preseason Wooden Award list, Villanueva did not even make it to the All-Big East First Team. Still, after averaging 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in 2004-05, Villanueva is critical to UConn's NCAA Tournament hopes. If he doesn't play well, UConn won't get very far.

With the suspension of Antonio Kellogg this week, Williams suddenly becomes UConn's iron man in the backcourt. The Big East's Most Improved Player, Williams led the league and ranked No. 3 in the nation with 8.1 assists per game. And yet, even after averaging a team-high 30.6 minutes this season - 32.5 minutes in Big East games - Williams might have to play close to 35 minutes in the NCAA tournament for the Huskies to advance past the second round. One of the nation's best point guards, look for Williams to shine in the trenches.

After spending two years in the shadow of Emeka Okafor, Armstrong has developed into one of Jim Calhoun's most important reserves. In 28 games this year, Armstrong is averaging 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.7 minutes. Although Armstrong's numbers don't necessarily jump off the stat sheet, his energy has given the Huskies a big lift this season. In UConn's double-overtime win at Providence last month, Armstrong played a career-high 28 minutes. Two weeks earlier, Armstrong collected 10 rebounds in an 81-76 win over Villanova.

12 A.J. Price G

6-2 / FR / Amityville, N.Y.

A consensus top-30 recruit, Price's season abruptly ended last October when he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. Although Price spent the second half of the season on the bench, he won't play for UConn until next year, provided he receives medical clearance. Unfortunately for the Huskies, with Antonio Kellogg's suspension this week, UConn really could've used him in the NCAA tournament. In addition to being a skilled playmaker, Price is a terrific 3-point shooter who averaged 28.5 points as a senior at Amityville Memorial High.

After pulling the cobwebs off his uniform last month, Thompson gave the Huskies an unlikely boost while Rashad Anderson recovered from his staph infection. The Australian-born Thompson has appeared in the last nine games for UConn and played poised, mistake-free basketball off the bench. Thompson played a career-high 18 minutes March 5 against Syracuse and shot 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Don't be shocked if Jim Calhoun asks Thompson to play an even bigger role in the NCAA Tournament, given his ability to handle the basketball.

20 Antonio Kellogg G

6-3 / FR / Oakland, Calif.

After developing into a solid back-up to Marcus Williams, Kellogg was abruptly suspended for the rest of ther season Monday for an undisclosed violation of team rules. The penalty couldn't have come at a worse time for the Huskies, who still hope to defend their national championship over the next three weeks. Kellogg had evolved into a staple of Jim Calhoun's rotation, while averaging 3.2 points and 2.2 assists this year. Now, with Kellogg off the team, the Huskies are dangerously thin in the backcourt. Don't be surprised if Kellogg decides to transfer after the season.

21 Josh Boone F/C

6-10 / SO / Mount Airy, Md.

Although Boone doesn't necessarily get the same national attention as Villanueva, their statistics are nearly identical. Boone, the Big East's Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 12.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots this year for UConn. Although he fell into a slump in late January, Boone rallied down the stretch with 16 points and 11 rebounds Feb. 13 versus North Carolina in a 77-70 loss and 21 points and seven rebounds Feb. 19 in an 85-63 victory at Rutgers. Boone has to assert himself if UConn hopes to win a third NCAA crown.

22 Rudy Gay F

6-9 / FR / Baltimore, Md.

The Big East's Co-Rookie of the Year, Gay has become one of Jim Calhoun's most explosive assets this year. A multi-talented freshman, Gay can dunk on a dime or knock down the 3-pointer. He can also pass the ball, run the floor, and attack the boards. In 29 games this season - 24 of them starts - Gay averaged 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. He also reached double figures 21 times this season, more than any other Husky. In short, few college players are more versatile than Gay, which could make him a wild card in the 2005 NCAA tournament.

For 2� years, Baisch labored without a scholarship as a beefy walk-on. He went to practice every day, worked hard and never complained. Earlier this year, Baisch was rewarded for his loyalty when Calhoun gave him a scholarship. Although he's only appeared in 11 games this season, Baisch is far more valuable for setting the tone in practice, usually with a forearm shiver. A former standout at Pomperaug High and Western Connecticut State University, Baisch went to UConn with a dream. He will leave with at least one NCAA ring.

After missing a month of the season with a staph infection, Anderson is eager to duplicate last year's performance in the NCAA tournament. But it won't be easy. Consider: Last season, Anderson shot a ridiculous 48.8 percent from 3-point range (21-of-43), including 6-of-9 efforts against Vermont and Alabama. This season, Jim Calhoun is just hoping Anderson can give him something off the bench in the NCAA tournament. But after shooting 2-of-9 last week at the Big East tournament, it might be a while before Anderson gets back in the mix.

Nobody gets more mileage out of his body than Nelson, a rugged banger who often gives up inches, but not heart, on the blocks. After sitting out last season as a transfer from Georgia Tech, Nelson has played in every game this year, while averaging 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds off the bench. In the last game of the regular season, Nelson scored nine points against Syracuse, his highest point total in a UConn jersey. Although Nelson will never lead the team in scoring, he gives the Huskies a visible element of toughness that Jim Calhoun loves.

When Rashad Anderson was in the hospital, no one stepped up more than Denham Brown, his alter ego on the wing. During Anderson's absence, Brown scored in double figures in five of the next seven games, including a 21-point outburst in UConn's 85-63 victory at Rutgers. After hyper-extending his left knee against Georgetown in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, Brown played just 14 minutes in UConn's 67-63 loss to Syracuse in the semifinals. If Brown can't play full speed in the NCAAs - or close to it - it only spells trouble.